washington yu ying pcs review report

8/10/2019 Washington Yu Ying PCS Review Report

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2012-13 Charter

Review Report

Washington Yu Ying

Public Charter School

Fifth Year Review

June 17, 2013

DC Public Charter School Board

3333 14th Street, NW, Suite 210

Washington, DC 20010

(202) 328-2660

www.dcpcsb.org
http://www.dcpcsb.org/http://www.dcpcsb.org/http://www.dcpcsb.org/


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

RECOMMENDATION ................................................................................................................................. 3

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................ 3

GOALS AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT EXPECTATIONS .............................................................. 4

COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS...........23

FISCAL MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY.............27


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RECOMMENDATION

The District of Columbia Public Charter School Boards (PCSB) staff recommends Washington Yu

Ying Public Charter School (Washington Yu Ying PCS) be granted charter continuance based on the

schools overall academic, compliance, and fiscal performance.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Washington Yu Ying PCS began operating in 2008 under the authority of PCSB and is currently in its

fifth year of operation. The schools mission is to nurture the development of a strong social conscience

among tomorrows global leaders by fostering excellence in our students intellectual, moral, social,

emotional and physical development in an engaging, inquiry-driven, Chinese-English dual language

immersion environment. Washington Yu Ying PCS is the District of Columbias only public Chinese-

immersion school.

Campus WardYear

Opened

Grades

Served

2012-13

Student

Enrollment

2010-11 PMF

Results

2011-12 PMF

Results

WashingtonYu Ying

PCS5 2008-09 PK4-5 439

Met 7 of 7early

childhoodtargets

76.7%(Tier 1)

Met 6 of 6 earlychildhood targets

In its first year, the school operated a pre-kindergarten through first grade class, and has been adding a

grade each year ever since, serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in 2012-13 and pre-kindergarten

through sixth grade in 2013-14. The school accepts new students in grades pre-kindergarten through

second grade.

In December 2012, the PCSB Board voted to approve with conditions an amendment to Washington Yu

Ying PCS charter to contract with the District of Columbia International School, a newly created charter

management organization that would operate a middle/high school program on behalf of a consortium of

five DC public charter schools, including Washington Yu Ying PCS. 1

This year, PCSB conducted a five-year review of Washington Yu Ying PCS as required by the School

Reform Act (SRA),2

and determined that the school has met all of its goals and student academicachievement expectations. The following report details this finding, and also assesses Washington Yu

Ying PCSs legal compliance, fiscal management, and economic viability.

1See PCSB meeting minutes, December 17, 2012, included in this document as Appendix A.2SRA 38-1802.12 (a)(3).


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GOALS AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT EXPECTATIONS

The SRA requires PCSB to review whether a school has met its goals and student academic achievement

expectations (expectations) at least once every five years. Goals are general aims (usually related to a

schools mission), which may be categorized as academic, non-academic, and organizational, whereas

expectations are student academic aims measured by assessments. As part of this review, PCSB considers

those goals and expectations detailed in a schools charter agreement, any subsequent charter

amendments, and/or accountability plans (collectively, the Charter).

Washington Yu Ying PCS detailed nineteen goals in its charter application, seventeen of which are

included in the chart below.3The goals relating to governance and financial stability are not included in

this section, as the schools performance in those areas is discussed separately in this report.4Washington

Yu Ying PCS has met all of its goals and academic achievement expectations. The chart below

summarizes these determinations, which are detailed in the body of this report.

3See Washington Yu Ying PCS Charter Application, included in this document as Appendix B.4These two goals are: (1) The school will be led by an active Board of Trustees that will work with theHead of School and principal to effectively run the Washington Yu Ying School; and (2) The school willbe in sound fiscal health, and the Board of Trustees will ensure the school has the resources it needs tocarry out its program.

Goal or Expectation1 Students will achieve literacy in English. Yes

2 Students will achieve literacy in Chinese. Yes

3Students will be adept inquirers and flexible thinkers capable of solvingproblems effectively.

Yes

4Students will understand and master increasingly complex mathematicalconcepts.

Yes

5 Students will master the scientific method and apply it. Yes

6 Students will be able to relate their learning to the outside world. Yes

7

Students will become independent learners and complete independent

papers, reports, and performances, culminating in a graduation projectfor Grade 8. Yes

8

Students will satisfy Washington Yu Ying PCSs requirements forpromotion from each grade and upon graduation from Grade 8 beprepared to undertake the most rigorous academic curricula in highschool.

Yes

9Students will become life-long learners who possess a positive attitudetoward school and learning.

Yes10

The school will create an environment celebrating life-long learning witha welcoming culture for student and adult learning.

11 Students will embrace diversity and respect for other cultures. Yes

12Students will treat themselves, other students, staff, and the physical

plant with respect.

Yes


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13Students will learn to work collaboratively and resolve conflictseffectively and safely.

Yes

14Students will embrace the community by contributing to their school andwider community with service projects. Yes

15 The school will be a good citizen and contribute to the local community.

16Teachers and staff will be highly qualified, demonstrate highexpectations for all students and have a positive attitude toward the

school and their colleagues.

Yes

17The school will strive to recruit and retain a diverse group of students,teachers, staff, administrators, and board members.

Yes


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Early Childhood Literacy Targets

The school met all of its 2010-11 and 2011-12 early childhood literacy targets, as detailed in the table

below.

Washington Yu Ying PCS 2010-11 Early Childhood Literacy Targets

Target Met target?

65% of kindergarten through second-gradestudents will score in the no risk range onthe DIBELS assessment.

Yes74% of students scored

within the no risk range

Washington Yu Ying PCS 2011-12 Early Childhood Literacy Targets

65% of kindergarten through second-gradestudents will increase at least one level ormaintain low risk by the springadministration on the DIBELS assessment.

Yes85.7% of students increasedon level or maintained low

risk.

65% of kindergarten through second-gradestudents will score low risk on the

DIBELS assessment.

Yes85.4% of students scored

low risk.

2. Students will achieve literacy in Chinese.

Assessment: Washington Yu Ying PCS has met this goal.

Every other day, Washington Yu Ying PCS students attend classes in all subject areas taught entirely in

Mandarin Chinese.6Notably, in 2011-12, the school launched a pre-kindergarten Chinese immersion

program.7

2008-09 and 2009-10 Chinese Literacy Performance

In 2008-09, Washington Yu Ying PCS reported that 50% of its kindergarten and first grade studentstested proficient in Chinese literacy.8In 2009-10, the school reported that 69% of its students tested

proficient in Chinese on the Student Oral Proficiency Assessment (SOPA).9

CIRCLE Results

In 2010-11 and 2011-12, Washington Yu Ying PCS measured its students Chinese literacy with the

Comprehensive Immersion Resources for Chinese Language Education (CIRCLE) assessment, which is

administered to students three times per year. This exam is based on the Flying with Chinese

curriculum and assesses a students ability to read Chinese characters in isolation, read a Chinese story,

write Chinese characters, and determine the number of strokes for a Chinese character.10

6Washington Yu Ying PCS 2011-12 Annual Report, p. 4, included in this document as Appendix D.7See Appendix D, p. 17.8Washington Yu Ying PCS 2008-09 Annual Report, pg. 13, included in this document as Appendix E.9See Appendix C, pg. 18.10See Washington Yu Ying PCS 2010-11 Annual Report, included in this document as Appendix F.


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Proficiency results from this assessment are detailed in the table below. Each grade demonstrated

increased Chinese proficiency over the course of the academic year in 2010-11 and 2011-12.

GradeTesting

Period

2010-11 2011-12

K Fall 34% 70%

Winter 56% 88%

Spring 74% 88%

1 Fall 16% 53%

Winter N/A 63%

Spring 58% 56%

2 Fall 19% 43%

Winter 46% 68%

Spring 50% 54%

3 Fall 44% 27%Winter 55% 70%

Spring 62% 81%

4 Fall N/A 52%

Winter N/A 90%

Spring N/A 80%


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3. Students will be adept inquirers and flexible thinkers capable of solving problems effectively.

Assessment: Washington Yu Ying PCS has met this goal. The school has met this goal based on its

execution of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB PYP), which emphasizes

communication and collaboration as a means of making sense of the world through its inquiry-based

curriculum.11IB PYP focuses on six subjects: language, social studies, mathematics, science and

technology and physical education. Washington Yu Ying PCS execution of this program is describedbelow.

To be promoted from grade to grade, Washington Yu Ying PCS students must demonstrate mastery of six

units of inquiry, which are constructed by teaching the above six subjects in relation to six organizing

themes, detailed in the table below.12Over the past four years, the schools promotion rates have been

consistently high: 99% or higher, indicating student mastery of the IB PYP curriculum, and the critical

thinking skills associated with it.

Theme Description of Theme

Who We AreAn exploration of the nature of the self; our beliefs and values; personal physical,mental, social, and spiritual health; of our families, friends, communities, and cultures;our rights and responsibilities; of what it means to be human.

Where We are inPlace and Time

An exploration of our orientation in place and time; our personal histories; history andgeography from local and global perspectives; of our homes and journeys; of thediscoveries, explorations and migrations of humankind; of the contributions of individualsand civilizations.

How We ExpressOurselves

An exploration of the ways in which we discover and express our nature, ideas, feelings,beliefs and values through language and the arts.

How the WorldWorks

An exploration of the physical and material world; natural and human made phenomena; ofthe world of science and technology.

How We OrganizeOurselves

An exploration of human systems and communities; of the world of work, its nature and itsvalue; of employment and unemployment and their impact on us and the world around us.

Sharing the PlanetAn exploration of our rights and our responsibilities as we strive to share finite resourceswith other people and with other living things; of communities and of the relationshipswithin and between them.

Additionally, IB PYP curriculum focuses on students developing five types of transdisciplinary skills:

social, communication, thinking, research, and self-management skills.13For example, as a thinking

skill, students learn metacognition how to analyze their own and others thought processes. In the

student assessment reports the school prepares for each student on a monthly basis, students are not only

assessed for substantive mastery, but also their mastery of these transdisciplinary skills.14

11See Appendix B, p. i.12Washington Yu Ying PCS website, www.washingtonyuying.org. Pre-kindergarten and kindergartenstudents study four units of inquiry.13For more information on these transdisciplinary skills, see Skills: what do we want students to be ableto do?, included in this document as Appendix G.14See Washington Yu Ying PCS student report templates, included in this document as Appendix H.


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4. Students will understand and master increasingly complex mathematical concepts.


Washington Yu Ying PCS has performed above the charter sector math proficiency rate in 2010-11 (its

first year with a third grade class, in which the DC-CAS is first administered) and 2011-12. From 2010-11

to 2011-12, its students math proficiency rate increased by 2.3 percentage points.

Source: OSSE

2009-10

In 2009-10, the school reported that 50% of first and second grade students tested proficient on the Group

Mathematics Assessment and Diagnostic Evaluation (GMADE).15

15See Appendix C, pp. 14-15.


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Early Childhood Math Targets

The school met all of its 2010-11 and 2011-12 early childhood math targets, as detailed in the table

below.

Washington Yu Ying PCS 2010-11 Early Childhood Math Targets

Target Met target?

70% of first- and second-grade students willscore within their grade level range on theGroup Mathematics Assessment andDiagnostic Evaluation.

Yes

76% of students scoredwithin the designated grade

level range.

Washington Yu Ying PCS 2011-12 Early Childhood Math Targets

70% of kindergarten through second-gradestudents will score proficient or above inmathematics on the Discovery EducationEarly Skills Assessment.

Yes

84.7% of students scoredproficient.

5. Students will master the scientific method and apply it.


Science is one of the six subjects taught in the IB Primary Years Programme. The school describes its

science programming in its charter application: [s]tudents actively construct and challenge their

understanding of the world by combining scientific knowledge with reasoning and thinking skills.16

Student Performance in Science Units of Inquiry

Washington Yu Ying PCS submitted its 2011-12 and 2012-13 student-level assessment data on essential

tasks connected to their grade levels science units of inquiry, indicating that Washington Yu Ying PCS

students displayed an understanding of the scientific method.17

6. Students will be able to relate their learning to the outside world.


The IB Primary Years Program, and in particular its social studies component, is designed to enable

students to relate their learning to the outside world. Washington Yu Ying PCS describes its social studies

16See Appendix B, p. 18.17See Washington Yu Ying PCS science assessment data grade-level averages, included in this documentas Appendix I.


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programming in its charter application: [s]tudents develop the skills and knowledge needed to participate

actively in their classroom, their school, their community and the world: to understand themselves in

relation to their communities.18

Student Performance in Social Studies Units of Inquiry

Washington Yu Ying PCS submitted its 2011-12 and 2012-13 student-level assessment data on essential

tasks connected to their grade levels social studies units of inquiry, indicating that Washington Yu YingPCS students displayed an understanding of social studies and could connect their learning to the outside

world.19

Qualitative Evidence

During Washington Yu Ying PCS 2012-13 QSR, the PCSB review team found evidence to support that

Washington Yu Ying PCS has met this goal, as follows.

The review team observed teachers relating lessons to the outside world.

Students related vocabulary words to their experiences and teachers asked

probing questions to connect lessons to real life examples and studentsinterests.20

7. Students will become independent learners and complete independent papers, reports, and

performances, culminating in a graduation project for Grade 8.


While Washington Yu Ying PCS does not yet have an eighth grade class, its students complete

independent papers, reports and performances. All students organize student-led conferences, a unique

IB experience where the children guide their parents through their learning.21An example of a pre-

kindergarten student-led conference involves the students demonstrate[ing] their graphic capabilities bycollecting data and demonstrating results in a Venn diagramrecit[ing] Chinese poetrymatch[ing]

Chinese characters to meaning and read[ing] from the book they created in their Tell Me a Story

unit.22

As part of the IB PYP, every student creates a portfolio that includes summative assessments, a

culminating project completed by the student to demonstrate learning and growth at the end of each unit

of inquiry.23Students present their portfolios in second, fourth, and fifth grade.24

18

See Appendix B, p. 19.19See Washington Yu Ying PCS social studies assessment data grade-level averages, included in thisdocument as Appendix J.20Washington Yu Ying PCS QSR report, p. 1, included in this document as Appendix K.21See Appendix E, p. 16.22See Appendix E, p. 16.23See Appendix B, p 29.


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towards school and learning. In the focus groups, students described how

much they enjoyed the school and learning. When asked to say something

in Chinese, each student responded proudly.26

Additionally,

Teacher and student focus groups discussed the end-of-unit celebrationsthat students put on every six weeks or so. The students, teachers and staff

invite parents to see end-of-unit projects and experience the theme for the

previous six weeks. Students also had the opportunity to show their

parents how they are meeting their fall goals during conferences each

spring.27

11.Students will embrace diversity and respect other cultures.


Cultural Events

Washington Yu Ying PCS provided PCSB with a list of cultural events held at the school over the past

five years. Washington Yu Ying PCS participates in the following cultural events on an annual basis:

Chinese New Year celebrations

Students celebrate at school, and also participate in the Chinatown parade

Chinese New Year Banquet

Organized by the Washington Yu Ying PCS parent association since 2009-10

Moon FestivalCelebrated on an annual basis since 2009-10

Additionally, the school has sponsored other cultural events and activities, a selection of which is

included in the table below.

Year Event

2008-09 Students visited with elderly Chinese at the Chinese Cultural Center

2009-10 First grade students exchanged self-portraits with Japanese students

2011-12 Washington Performing Arts Society presented the Chinese RibbonDance for kindergarten students

2011-12 The Washington Yu Ying PCS Parent Association decorated theschool with flags from every students home country

2012-13 Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students performed at the ChineseEmbassys Chinese New Year Event

26See Appendix K, p. 2.27See Appendix K, p. 3.


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As part of the Mandarin Chinese immersion curriculum, students learn

about Chinese culture, according to the administration. In the student focus

group, students discussed learning about a different culture and how theyenjoy comparing it to their own. One of the fifth graders mentioned being

excited to visit China later in the year and to experience the culture they

have studied.28

12.Students will treat themselves, other students, staff and the physical plant with respect.


DisciplineThe following tables detail Washington Yu Ying PCS discipline rates since 2009-10. PCSB has charter

sector averages for these data points starting in 2011-12. Green shading indicates that Washington Yu

Ying PCS rate is below the charter sector average.

% of Students Receiving

Out of School

Suspensions

SY 09-

10

SY 10-

11

SY 11-

12

SY 12-13

(through

December)

Charter Sector Average 13.2% 6.6%

Washington Yu Ying PCS 1.5% 2.1% 3.0% 1.1%

% of Students Receiving

Out of School

Suspensions of 10+ Days

SY 09-

10

SY 10-

11

SY 11-

12

SY 12-13

(through

December)



% of Students Expelled SY 09-10

SY 10-11

SY 11-12

SY 12-13

(throughDecember)



28See Appendix K, p. 2.


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All interactions observed by the review team were respectful. Teacher to

student and student-to-student interactions were caring and courteous.

Teachers regularly used the word respect, which was one of the attitudewords posted in every classroom. The review team observed staff and

students picking up litter in the halls and classrooms.29

13.Students will learn to work collaboratively and resolve conflicts effectively and safely.

Assessment: Washington Yu Ying PCS has met this goal. Washington Yu Ying PCS uses the Prevent,

Act, Resolve (PAR) and the Communicate, Action, Report, Embrace (CARE) models to teach its

students to work collaboratively and resolve conflicts effectively. Both of these programs are described

below.

PAR Program30

Washington Yu Ying PCS recently adopted the PAR Model to manage student behavior. Developed at

Johns Hopkins University, PAR is a process-based model in which collaborative teams of school

members work together to come to consensus on an individualized school-wide, comprehensive approach

to discipline.

Specifically, Washington Yu Ying PCS students work with a PAR facilitator to:

1. Prevent

the occurrence of troubling behavior;2. Act, or respond to, instances of rule compliance and noncompliance in a consistent fashion; and

3. Resolve many of the issues that underlie or cause troubling behavior are develop, implemented,

and evaluated.

The goals of the PAR program are as follows:

1. Collaboratively adapt and follow through with mutually agreed-upon school-wide methods for

recognizing students who comply with stated rules and procedures, so students see, firsthand, that

the adults in their school are not just focusing on what kids do wrong.

2. [R]ecognize the large majority of students who behave in an appropriate fashion and provide

supports for those who need assistance to meet academic and behavioral standards.

3. Provide teachers with adequate supports to sustain the systems they helped create.

29See Appendix K, p. 2.30This description of the PAR Model was submitted by Washington Yu Ying PCS. See submission,included in this document as Appendix L.


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4. Decrease in discipline referrals resulting in students becoming more proficient at regulating their

own behavior and increasing their ability to demonstrate the attributes of the IB PYP Learner

Profile.31

CARE Model32

Students are taught to use the CARE model if teased or bullied:

1. Communicate: Give the person who is teasing/bothering an I statement.

2. Action: Walk away; ignore the person; find a care buddy.

3. Report: to an adult at school; the tell box; to a classmate.

4. Embrace the solution.




Reviewers observed PAR posted in every classroomand implemented

across the campus. Students in the focus group could identify each of the

five steps and the consequences to each step. The review team observed the

PAR behavior system being used multiple times. The administrator focus

group also sated the fourth and fifth graders have started peer mediations to

resolve conflicts. If there is a continuing problem students are paired with a

student mediator. So many students wanted to join the program as

mediators that they had to apply. The school also pairs older students with

younger ones to eat lunch together once a week. Administrators said this

gave younger students an opportunity to ask older students about the

culture of the school.

33

31The IB PYP Learner Profile is included in this document as Attachment M.32This description of the CARE Model was submitted by Washington Yu Ying PCS. See submission,included in this document as Attachment N.33See Appendix K, p. 2.


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14.Students will embrace the community by contributing to their school and wider community with

service projects.

15.The school will be a good citizen and contribute to the local community.

Assessment: Washington Yu Ying PCS has met these goals.

Community Service ActivitiesWashington Yu Ying PCS has consistently sponsored community service projects, a selection of which

are detailed below.

Help the Homeless Walk (2009-10 to present)

A teacher has organized this event annually since 2009-10, and the school community is invited to

participate.

Trick or Treating at Nursing Home (2009-10; 2010-11)

Pre-kindergarten students trick or treated for stories from elderly residents of a local nursing

home.

First Aid/Food Drive for Haiti(2009-10, 2010-11, and 2011-12)The school community was invited to donate items for Haitian disaster relief after the 2010

earthquake.

Advocacy Project for Children in Homeless Shelters(2011-12)

Fourth grade students wrote letters to DC Council members in support of increased funding for

DC children in homeless shelters, which they personally delivered to the Council.

Crossing Guard Civic Action Project (2011-12)

Third grade students organized a petition for DC government to place a crossing guard outside of

their school.




The review team observed plaques on the entrance wall stating which

students in each grade were doing to help the environment. In the student

focus groups, students discussed different fundraisers and activities they

did to help the community, including walk-a-thons for the homeless

shelter and clothing drives. They also noted that the school has a system

that rewards students for helping others within the school and in thecommunity.34



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16.Teachers and staff will be highly qualified, demonstrate high expectations for all students and

have a positive attitude toward the school and their colleagues.


Highly Qualified Teachers

Since 2008-09, the majority of Washington Yu Ying PCS teachers and aides have been certified asHighly Qualified according to the No Child Left Behind Act, and in most years 100% of teachers and

aides were certified as such, as detailed in the table below.

Washington Yu Ying PCS Highly Qualified Teacher Rates

YearClassroom

Teachers

Special

Subject

Teachers

Special

Education

Teachers

Classroom

Aides

2008-09 66% 50% 100% 100%

2009-10 100% 100% 100% 100%

2010-11 70% 100% 100% 100%

2011-12 100% 100% 100% notavailable

Source: Washington Yu Ying PCS Annual Reports

2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

% of teachers invited back to

teach that return to Washington

Yu Ying PCS

75% 84% 86% 77% 81%




The teacher focus groups discussed their appreciation of the schools

educational program. Teachers have time every day to lesson plan together

and collaborate with grade level and content area teams. The review team

observed staff in all classrooms holding students to high expectations and

exhibiting positive attitudes to other teachers and all students.35



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17.The school will strive to recruit and retain a diverse group of students, teachers, staff,

administrators and board members.


Diversity

While Washington Yu Ying PCS does not report on its teacher diversity, its student body is diverse, asdetailed in the table below.

Washington Yu Ying PCS Student Diversity Rates

YearAfrican-

American

Asian/Pacific

IslanderCaucasian Hispanic Other

2008-09 46.6% 5.2% 27.5% 6.9% -

2009-10 51% 16% 27% 6% -

2010-11 46.5% 14.1% 28.2% 5.4% 5.8%

2011-12 48.1% 18% 27.3% 6.6% -

Source: Washington Yu Ying PCS Annual Reports (2008-09, 2009-10); PMF

Washington Yu Ying PCS Student Diversity Rates

YearLow

Income

English

Language

Learners

Special

Education

2008-09 6% 17% 5%

2009-10 23% 17% 9%

2010-11 19.5% 7.9% 8.3%

2011-12 20% 8% 9%

Source: Washington Yu Ying PCS Annual Reports; PMF

Staff Retention Rates

Washington Yu Ying PCS has retained the majority of its staff every year after 2008-09, its first year in

operation.

2009-10 2010-11 2011-12

Staff Retention Rate 72% 89% 88%

Source: Washington Yu Ying PCS Annual Reports


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been at the school since they started school, either in kindergarten or in pre-

kindergarten.36

36Appendix K, p. 3.


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COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS

The SRA requires PCSB to review whether a charter school is in compliance with applicable laws at least

once every five years.37The SRA contains a non-exhaustive list of applicable laws, and the PCSB also

monitors charter schools for compliance with additional laws. The following section identifies these laws

and includes a determination of whether Washington Yu Ying PCS has consistently complied with these

laws over the past five years.

General Laws

In its 2012-13 compliance review, PCSB found that Washington Yu Ying PCS was in full compliance with

all applicable laws.38However, in previous years, the school was not in full compliance with all laws, as

described below.

Health and Safety

The SRA requires schools to maintain the health and safety of its students.39To ensure that schools adhere

to this clause, PCSB monitors schools for various health and safety indicators, including but not limited towhether schools have qualified staff members that can administer medications, that schools conduct

background checks for all school employees and volunteers, and that schools have a School Emergency

Response Plan in place and conduct emergency drills as required by the District of Columbia Fire

Department.

In 2008-09, the school did not hold fire drills within the first ten days of the academic year, nor did it have

a DC Fire Department inspection certificate on file.40The school has since cured these points of

incompliance.

Discipline

PCSB reviews school disciplinary policies to ensure that they afford students due process41and that

students and parents are made aware of these due process safeguards. Over the past five years,

Washington Yu Ying PCS has had disciplinary policies in place that ensure students' due process, but in

2008-09 the school failed to disseminate the policy to students and parents.42The school has since cured

this point of incompliance.

Enrollment and Attendance

The SRA requires that schools have a fair and open enrollment process that randomly selects applicants

37 SRA 38.1802.12 (c)(2).

38 See Washington Yu Ying PCS 2012-13 compliance report, included in this document asAppendix O.

39 SRA 38.1802.04 (c)(4)(A).40 See Washington Yu Ying PCS 2008-09 compliance report, included in this document as Appendix

P.41 As required by Goss v. Lopez, 419 U.S. 565 (1975).42 See Appendix P.


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and does not discriminate against students. PCSB requires that schools announce a cutoff date for

enrollment. Washington Yu Ying PCS has been compliant with these requirements over the past five

years.

Maintenance and Dissemination of Student Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act requires that schools properly maintain and disseminate

student records.43In 2008-09, Washington Yu Ying PCS properly maintained and disseminated studentrecords, but it did not have policies and procedures for safeguarding student privacy.44The school has

since cured this point of incompliance.

Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act

Because Washington Yu Ying PCS receives Title I funds, it is required to adhere to a number of

requirements under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), including hiring Highly

Qualified Teachers and communicating certain information to parents about its participation in No Child

Left Behind (NCLB) program.45

Washington Yu Ying PCS has had Highly Qualified teachers for each of the past five years. However, in2008-09 the school did not notify parents of their right to request information about teachers'

qualifications.46The school has since cured this point of incompliance.

Civil Rights Statutes and Regulations

Charter schools must comply with all applicable local and federal civil rights statutes.47There is no

indication that Yu Ying has violated any civil rights statutes.

Governance

The SRA requires that a school's board of trustees have an odd number of members, not exceeding fifteen,

two of which must be parents of students currently attending the school. A majority of the board must be

District of Columbia residents.48In 2008-09, Washington Yu Ying PCS did not have two parents of

current students on the board of trustees.49However, the school is now in full compliance with this

requirement.50

43 20 U.S.C. 1232g44 See Appendix P45 20 U.S.C. 6300, et. seq.

46 See Appendix P.47 SRA 38-1802.02 (11). This includes the Age Discrimination Act of 1985, the Civil Rights Act of1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, part B ofthe Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1990.48 SRA 38-1802.05(a).49 See Appendix P.50 See Appendix O.


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Special Education Laws

Charter Schools are required to comply with Subchapter B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education

Act51and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.52In 2012, PCSB conducted a desktop audit of

six special education indicators to assess Washington Yu Ying PCS compliance with these laws and the

educational progress of its special education students.53

Academic Performance of Washington Yu Ying PCS Special Education Students

Federal special education laws are in place, among other reasons, to ensure that schools adequately assist

students with disabilities in making academic progress. As part of the special education desktop audit,

PCSB reviews how schools students with disabilities performed on the DC-CAS.

In 2012, the reading and math proficiency rates of Washington Yu Ying PCS students with disabilities

was above the state reading proficiency rate for students with disabilities. However, the academic

achievement gap between Washington Yu Ying PCS students with disabilities and the schools general

population was 48% in reading and 50% in math.

OSSE Compliance Review of Washington Yu Ying PCS

As part of the desktop audit, PCSB examines special education compliance and monitoring

documentation prepared by the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education

(OSSE). OSSE reports provide a comprehensive overview of the entire LEAs performance, versus

campus-specific information.

OSSEs December 2010 review of Washington Yu Ying PCS indicated that the school did not complete

initial evaluations and reevaluations in a timely manner. However, this point of noncompliance was

corrected by April 2011. In 2010-11, OSSE determined that Washington Yu Ying PCS was 100%

compliant with special education requirements, with OSSE noting that the school Meets Requirement in

fulfilling all applicable federal and local special education regulations.54

5120 USC 1413(a)(5).5220 USC 794.53See Washington Yu Ying PCS Online Desktop Audit, attached to this document as Appendix Q.54See 2010 OSSE report, attached to this document as Appendix R. OSSE uses the same determinationlevels as the United States Department of Education: (1) meets requirements; (2) needs assistance; (3)needs intervention; or (4) needs substantial intervention.


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Financial Laws

Procurement Contracts

SRA 38-1802.04(c)(1) requires DC charter schools to utilize a competitive bidding process for any

procurement contract $25,000 or more, and within three days of awarding such a contract, to submit to

PCSB all bids received, the contractor selected, and the rationale for which contractor was selected. To

ensure compliance with this law, PCSB requires schools to submit a Determinations and Findings form to

detail any qualifying procurement contract entered into.

Per Washington Yu Ying PCS 2009-10 and 2010-11 audits, it entered into several $25K+ contracts, for

which it submitted all corresponding Determinations and Findings forms. In 2011-12, the school entered

into a few such contracts and submitted all corresponding Determinations and Findings forms to PCSB

for consideration. As such, Washington Yu Ying PCS is found to be in compliance with this SRA

provision.

Timely Audits

The SRA requires schools to submit to PCSB an annual financial audit conducted by an independentcertified public accountant or accounting firm.55Over the past four years, Washington Yu Ying PCS has

submitted all financial audits in a timely manner.

Submission of Information about Donors and Grantors

The SRA requires schools to submit to PCSB an annual list of all donors and grantors that have

contributed monetary or in-kind donations having a value equal to or exceeding $500.56 Washington Yu

Ying PCS has fulfilled this requirement by reporting this information in its annual reports.57

55SRA 38-1802.04(c)(11)(ix).56SRA 38-1802.04(c)(11)(xi).57See Appendices C, D, E, and F.


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FISCAL MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY

The SRA requires the Board to revoke a charter at any time if it determines that the school:

Has engaged in a pattern of nonadherence to generally accepted accounting principles;

Has engaged in a pattern of fiscal mismanagement; or

Is no longer economically viable.

As part of the review process, PCSB reviewed Washington Yu Ying PCSs financial record regarding

these areas.

Adherence to Accounting Principles

The school has consistently adhered to generally accepted accounting principles, as established by the

Financial Accounting Standards Board.

Fiscal Management

Per its audited financial statements, Washington Yu Ying PCS has not engaged in fiscal mismanagement.

The schools audit reports reflect sound accounting and internal controls, and no instances of

incompliance that are required to be reported per the US Government Accountability Offices Auditing

Standards. The school has consistently submitted all necessary financial documents to PCSB in a timely

manner.

Economic Viability

A review of annual audits indicates Washington Yu Ying PCS is economically viable.58One indicator of

economic viability is a positive year-end annualized net income. Washington Yu Ying PCS produced

positive net income results in the past four audited financial periods. In FY2012, the school produced a

positive net income result of $1.4 million compared to $1.8 million in the prior year.

Total net asset reserve is another indicator of economic viability. PCSB recommends that schools accrue

net asset reserves equal to three to six months of operational expenditures. As a result of its positive net

income, Washington Yu Ying PCSs total net asset reserves stood at $4.8 million in FY2012, which

represents a $4 million cumulative increase from FY2009. In FY2012, the schools net asset reserves

equals approximately 11 months of expenditures with monthly expenditures averaging about $452,000.

Fiscal Period 2009 2010 2011 2012

Net Income $553,060 $820,317 $1,813,997 $1,393,206

Net AssetReserves

$774,475 $1,594,792 $3,408,790 $4,801,996

58See Washington Yu Ying PCS activities and financial analysis sheet, attached to this document asAppendix S.


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washington yu ying pcs review report

Documents